I can understand A-'s, but flat A's? Kelvin Cato's bloated contract alone should preclude that. Also, I'd agree with Crisco that no coach should ever receive an A when his team doesn't make the playoffs. The bizarre substitution strategies also preclude thisA- is fine, but an A assumes that he did a perfect job-like he doesn't have a single major negative and only a couple minor ones. He didn't. Major negatives: 1. Cato's contract 2. Didn't make playoffs 3. Bizarre subst patterns-Bullard Minor negatives: 1. delinquent in introducing new offense 2. counted too much on veteren's health 3. late game collapses (mostly due to young players, but I think that a coach should bear some responsibility on this issue regardless ------------------
B-: I think that he should definatly start Mobley. Mobley is at the same postition as Anderson, plays less minutes and still scores 4 more points a game. Mobley has only started 7 games, come on! ------------------
Cato's contract has nothing to do with how Rudy performed as coach. How about Shandon Anderson's 'contract'? Seems like that would off-set Cato's a little, wouldn't it? Geez, if we're factoring in moves as GM, signing Anderson and trading for Francis give him an A+, Cato or no Cato. Is Jerry Sloan a bad coach because Ostertag makes more than Cato? ------------------
Mobley has less team ethic, doesn't play the same kind of defense, and provides "instant offense" in the 2nd team. You're equating having a starting job with talent, and that's just not accurate. What matters is that Mobley is finding "starting" minutes. I'd say that he's more valuable to us as a 6th man, with the capability of scoring points when the 1st unit is on the bench. I'm with Rudy on this one. Besides, you've gotta love Shandon . ------------------
Rudy seemed to be the big proponent of Kelvin Cato. Did you hear all the comments Rudy made about him? I have no doubt that this deal was made with Rudy's full approval, and perhaps at his insistence. Personally, I think that Rudy deluded himself about Cato's ability because he craved another great big man so much for the future. A great front court has been the hall-mark of Rudy's tenure as head-coach, and I think the uncharted territory of having a great back-court with a limited front-court frightened him. I think he was over eager, and jumped the gun. As for Francis... that deal wasn't in Rudy's hands. It was a matter of the Grizzlies needing to deal Francis, and Houston offering more than anyone else. That deal's a no-brainer. Anybody would have done that. NOT everybody would have been foolish to reward Cato for having a good preseason. As for Ostertagy, he did put up decent numbers (7pts, 7 boards, 2 blocks) in 23 minutes per game in 97. I think the contract was a reach, but there was at least an entire season for justification. Ostertag was huge, and it would perhaps be natural to anticipate him getting 12 and 9 in 32 minutes per game. Cato never proved himself even that much. He got his contract for just a few games. ------------------ [This message has been edited by haven (edited April 11, 2000).]
The point is we're not talking about his job as GM, we're talking about how he did as coach (even though I'd give Rudy/CD the nod for Executive of the Year anyway). Cato's contract hasn't even kicked in yet. You say Ostertag's contract was justified since he put up 7 pts, 7 rebs, and 2 blks in 23 minutes, well Cato's put up 9 pts, 6 rebs, and 2 blks in the same amount of time. That would mean that you wouldn't have a problem with the Rockets signing Cato to a similar deal after this season (you said Ostertag's deal could be justified). Well it just so happens that Cato's deal doesn't kick in until after this season, and it's for LESS than Ostertag's (7yrs, 49mil vs. 7yrs, 42mil). What's the problem? Most importantly, what does it have to do with how he performed as COACH? ------------------
Rudy has been my favorite coach since the days of Clutch City. I think he has really got the team focused. He is a players coach not a fans coach. People like to see wins more than losses so once you get into that trench you are hated more than you are liked. I have seen some maturity in this young team. They have taken it to the likes of Pippen and Stockton and dished out more than the opponents could take at times. But they can also lose to mediocre teams like Dallas or Minnesota at the same time. Overall Rudy T deserves an A- because. The Rockets are still a young team and could use to see (I hate to say it but)Hakeem retire, because he is injured more than he plays, to free up much needed cap room. Now with Barkley and Hakeem gone, we could capitalize on getting some rookies from this years talented draft. We might even be able trade picks for superstars, like Duncan. ------------------
I give Rudy an A... but if we win our last 4 games I'm thinking C+. ------------------ NOTHING BUT .NET CLUTCHCITY.NET
Rudy took an aging team and is currently rebuilding it extremely well. Having a club change it's overall strategy and roster is one of the toughest things a coach has to do and many get fired while attempting. Rudy has rebuilt the team around a young,exciting core with great potential and has given Houston some good wins. Already after one season Rudy has the Rockets looking good for next year, obviously not of championship caliber but they do have a possibility to make a run at the 8th seed in the playoffs. This team has exceptional talent in it's guards and just more experience will help them significantly. The record may not show much optimism but you have to look at how the Rockets have grown and became better with experience. At times Rudy's lineup are just puzzling though and that could use some work. Mr.T is a great coach and there is no way I would fire him. Plus Rudy pity's the fool who gives him an F. My Grade is an A. ------------------ THE DEAN
TheFreak: you're missing the subtleties involved here. Ostertag's contract is erroneous and cannot be justified. However, it's understandable that Sloan and their GM would sign him to a larger contract given those #'s. Rudy doesn't have that excuse. He signed him after a few preseason games-that's ridiculous. Furthermore, Cato's been in the league for longer than Ostertag, and has never demonstrated an ability to even win a starting job. Also, Cato has demonstrated an obvious lack of desire to exert himself at times and susceptibility to injury. Ostertag, at the time, had not demonstrated these characteristics. Were both signings mistakes? Yes. Perhaps of equal measure. However, Rudy made the decision with less justification than Sloan. Rudy seems to think that players work hard if shown confidence by the organization. Hence the contracts of Matt Maloney, Kelvin Cato, and even Hakeem's last one (signing an elderly player who's obviously not going anywhere else for such an extended period of times seems foolish). The problem is, players usually seem to put forth less effort when they're not working for their next contract. What did Rudy do in terms of personnel that's so astounding? Don't use the Francis deal: that fell into his lap. It doesn't take a genius for something like that. Rudy's personnel mistakes: 1. Counting on older players health. 2. Signing Cato to such a monstrosity of a contract. And I think that his performance in personell decisions *must* affect his grade as a coach... I think the two are inseparable, as the quality and type of players affects gameplay SO much. *shrug*... I understand disagreement w/that, however. ------------------
You know, another reason I give him an A- is that he seems to naturally get the one thing from players that other coaches have trouble getting: respect. Even Snottie Pimple (god nicknames for this guy are getting stupid) never said anything bad about Rudy. Everyone from Hakeem To Barkley To Francis to Chucky Brown to - and this is the ultimate - Vernon Maxwell still speaks well of Rudy T., and this to me is totally intangible and essential. It is an intuive understanding of the relationship between a coach and a player, and Rudy just plain gets it. Who else gets his type of respect from players? Phil Jackson does. Pat Rielly does NOT. Van Gundy sort of does, sort of does not. Bird does, I guess. As frustrated as I have been in the past with the 'dribble left, post up, blah blah' offense in the past, getting a group of weirdos like Walt Williams, Cuttino Mobley, Hakeem "(living in a) Dream" Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, etc. to accept - however grudgingly at times - one system is pretty rare and remarkable. Who has been pissed at Rudy in the past? Total dorks like Rhoderick "hit the" Rhodes, Thomas "four extra side orders of" Hamilton, and vernon maxwell (who has since expressed remorse for his meltdown). Being too nice, being too harsh, being to political, - everyone from Lenny Wilkens to George Karl has to deal with it over the long term. Rudy does not. As long as he has this sort of respect, I think he should - and will - coach the Rox. And by the way, I hate Isaiah Thomas, i think he is a poser and if he ever coached here I will have to become a Mavs fan, assuming they still suck. Have fun in atlanta, hawks fans, dealing with his act. Yuck. CBFC ------------------
My bad, vernon is not a dork, actually, i love him. Hey, he might add a little veteran leadership and defense and mentoring for our young guys, maybe we should. . . aw, forget it. CBFC ------------------
CBFC Just think how much more respect Rudy could get if he'd just stick his head in a bucket of ice water for 2 minutes at half-time like Riley did? What a "master motivator" he'd be then! lol
I always thought the same of Isiah, too. As much as I like to compare this Francis team with Isiah's, I'm more comparing what a Rudy team can do to a Chuck Daly team.
heypartner, "I tell you Dreamer; your post is contradicting itself. How can we say stuff like Walt should have been benched much earlier, when Rudy did indeed bench him, and Walt is now shooting 56% over the LAST 13 GAMES!" You say my "post" is contradicting itself by picking one (incorrect) point? If you're gonna say that at least give me some more examples. You say that the fact that Walt is playing well now makes my statements (about benching him earlier in the season) contradictory. Well, I don't see how that is contradictory. After all, since he's been out of the starting line up for a while he's played better. Did the benching make him play better? I don't know. But, I do know that Walt was playing terribly the first half of the season and Rudy kept him in the starting line up too long. IMHO I didn't even mention Cato's contract when grading Rudy... that even further supports my grade of B-. ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
you're right...sweeping generalization on my part. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited April 12, 2000).]
Ahhh finally the Dreamshake has comeback to CC.Net. In response to the Freak, and Mango request for an actual grade for Rudy's performance as head coach. Id give Rudy a solid B minus. Not bad all in all. Heck take away some awful strectches of coaching early in the season and he may of earned a B+. I cant say that Im terribly upset with how the season has gone considering some of the pitfalls that has been the Rockets season. Id still like to see an offense that generates looks for Francis, and Yes even Mobley that doesn't include all Iso's. Id still like to see less turnovers, and better free throw shooting. But Rudy has done alot over the last few months to make me feel good about him running the show next season. I think he's done a pretty admirable job this season, and deserves a great big ol high five for his performance as coach the last few months. Good Job Rudy. Here's to coming up with a playoff run next year.
Good to see you back, Dreamshake. I suppose I'm waiting until the season is actually over to give any assessment. Hey, 4 games can tell a lot. ------------------
Dreamshake, You had numerous posts throughout the season questioning some of Rudy's decisions. Your grade surprises me. I figured you had him down for a "C". Welcome back. Mango ------------------ The Serious Police are watching Donate Blood
Good to see you Mango-Tango. Im not completely Rudy Lovin. But Im willing to give the Man a little slack considering he lost 3 hof'ers this year from last. He was able to finally get out of the Dump it in offense, even though I believe it was out of need more than want. Throw in having nothing but young bucks or new people basically running the games, and I gave him a B-. I figure it could of been a whole lot worse. [This message has been edited by Dreamshake (edited April 12, 2000).]
